Two noteworthy items related to the Salton Sea were unveiled at the recent Southern California Energy Water Summit.

First, the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership released a report entitled “Revitalized Salton Sea-Analysis of Potential Economic Benefits-December 2017.” The report basically says that the Coachella Valley will benefit (avoided loss of visitors) economically if the Salton Sea is revitalized at cost of $1.1 billion. Is this report getting valley residents and businesses primed for picking up the tab? I hope not.

The report also presents some interesting case studies where environmental disasters were improved with funding coming from the polluters. Agriculture is responsible for creating and polluting the Salton Sea and as shown in these case studies, there is plenty of precedent that the responsible party should pay to clean up the mess.

Second, Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez presented yet another Salton Sea plan called the North Lake Vision. This project includes an in-sea barrier to create a lake on the north side of the Salton Sea and a “restored and expanded” Whitewater River entering the Salton Sea to provide enhanced environment habitat and recreational activities like boating.

The Whitewater River at this location is actually a regional stormwater channel called the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel (CVSC). It transports agricultural drainage, municipal wastewater plant effluent and stormwater to the Salton Sea. Would you go boating in this stuff?

Plus, during a regional flooding event, the flow in this section of CVSC will be immense and the proposed improvements could be wiped out. Why spend millions of dollars and have it all wash into the Salton Sea?

The source water entering the Salton Sea is polluted. For example, the CVWD agricultural drains that supply the Salton Sea with 61,000 acre-feet of water per year contain high levels of nitrates which are contributing to Salton Sea hypoxia. Why spend millions of dollars and have it become useless due to continued water pollution?

The project is proposed to be funded by a finance district, i.e. property taxes. My annual water bill is $180 but my annual water taxes are $667 — almost four times my water bill! The residents and businesses of the Coachella Valley should not be burdened with more water taxes. Agriculture, and perhaps proposed development projects in the Salton Sea area, should pay for this.

And why is the county confusing everyone by proposing yet another expensive project? Let’s fund and implement the state's 10-year Salton Sea Management Plan before we jump into anything else.

For that matter, any Salton Sea Reformation Plan must include a reduction or elimination of the pollutants, e.g. nitrate, entering the Salton Sea. Funding and implementing a plan without pollution elimination/reduction is like a longtime, chain-smoking patient getting a very expensive heart repair operation with absolutely no commitment from the patient to stop smoking!

The chances of success and survival are slim to none.

Mark Johnson(Photo: Courtesy)

Mark Johnson is a retired water resource professional and resides in La Quinta. Mark can be reached via email at mark@cvh2go.com.